Data processing system which suggests a pattern of medical tests to reduce the number of tests necessary to confirm or deny a diagnosis

Abstract

A data processing system for use in a total medical image diagnosis comprising a central processing unit, a first memory connected to the central processing unit for storing a plurality of types of fundamental data used for constructing a decision tree, a second memory connected to the central processing unit for storing various programs for constructing the decision tree, first data input system for inputting the fundamental data and the programs stored in the first and second memories into the central processing unit, circuitry for storing output data from the central processing unit and converting the output data into a bright signal for a display medical image, displaying for displaying a medical image corresponding to the bright signal from the storing and converting circuitry, a light pen connected to the central processing unit and operated by an operator for inputting a portion of the fundamental data displayed on the displaying means into the central processing unit as selected by the operator to construct a decision tree to perform a diagnosis, and a third memory connected to the central processing unit for storing the decision tree constructed with the selected fundamental data according to the program put in the central processing unit.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A data processing system for identifying a sequence of diagnostic procedural steps for using medical diagnostic apparatus to generate, for an operator, information to confirm or reject a diagnosis hypothesis, said sequence minimizing said procedural steps before said diagnosis hypothesis can be confirmed or rejected comprising: means for storing data representing decision tree elements required to construct a decision tree indicating a predetermined combination and order of medical inspections, said medical inspections generating information which said operator uses to confirm or reject a diagnosis hypothesis corresponding to any of a plurality of diseases;   means, coupled to said storing means, for assembling said data to construct a decision tree of medical inspections, said medical inspections generating information to confirm or reject a particular diagnosis hypothesis;   means, coupled to said storing means and said assembling means, for allowing said operator to enter a degree to which each of said medical inspections in said constructed decision tree minimized said procedural steps in confirming or rejecting said particular diagnosis hypothesis and for generating statistical indications of said degree of minimizing said procedural steps for each of said medical inspections;   said assembling means also being for modifying said constructed decision tree, based on said statistical indications, to minimize the number of said medical inspections which said operator uses, to confirm or reject said particular diagnosis hypothesis; and   means, coupled to said assembling means for indicating visual information corresponding to data signals of said constructed decision tree of medical inspections supplied from said storing means and said assembling means.   
     
     
       2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said storing means comprises a first memory for storing a plurality of types of fundamental data used for constructing a decision tree. 
     
     
       3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said assembling means comprises a third memory coupled to said first memory for storing a decision tree constructed using said fundamental data from said first memory. 
     
     
       4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said indicating means comprises means coupled to said assembling means and said storing means for storing output data from said assembling means and said storing means and converting the output data into a bright signal for displaying information; and displaying means coupled to said storing and converting means for displaying a medical image corresponding to the bright signal from the storing and converting means.   
     
     
       5. The data processing system according to claim 3, wherein said allowing means comprises first data input means for inputting the fundamental data for said first memory; and second data input means, operated by an operator, for inputting a portion of the fundamental data displayed on said displaying means as selected by the operator to construct a decision tree to perform a diagnosis, and   wherein said indicating means includes a fourth memory, coupled to said assembling means and said storing means, for storing character data from said assembling means and said storing means, means, coupled to said fourth memory, for causing said character data to be stored in said fourth memory, first converter means, coupled to said fourth memory for converting the character data stored in said fourth memory into data representative of a corresponding gray level, a fifth memory, coupled to said assembling means and storing means, for storing graphic pattern data from said assembling means and said storing means, means, coupled to said fifth memory, for causing said graphic pattern data to be stored in said fifth memory, second converter means, coupled to said fifth memory, for converting the graphic pattern data stored in said fifth memory into data representative of a corresponding gray level, a sixth memory, coupled to said assembling means and said storing means, for storing medical image data from said assembling means and said storing means, means, coupled to said sixth memory, for causing said medical image data to be stored in said sixth memory, said third converter means, coupled to said sixth memory, for converting the medical image data stored in said sixth memory into data of a corresponding gray level.   
     
     
       6. The data processing system according to claim 5, wherein said indicating means includes a fourth memory, coupled to said assembling means and said storing means, for storing character data from said assembling means and said storing means, means, coupled to said fourth memory, for causing said character data to be stored in said fourth memory, a character generator, coupled to said fourth memory for converting the character data stored in said fourth memory into a digital signal, a fifth memory, coupled to said assembling means and said storing means, for storing graphic pattern data from said assembling means and said storing means, means, coupled to said fifth memory, for causing said graphic pattern data to be stored in said fifth memory, first converter means, coupled to said fifth memory, for converting the graphic pattern data stored in said fifth memory into data of a corresponding gray level, a sixth memory, coupled to said assembling means and said storing means, for storing medical image data from said assembling means and said storing means, means, coupled to said sixth memory, for causing said medical image data to be stored in said sixth memory, second converter means, coupled to said sixth memory, for converting the medical image data stored in said sixth memory into data of a corresponding gray level, an adder coupled to said character generator and both said converter means, for adding the output data from said character generator and both said converter means, and a digital to analog converter, coupled to said adder, for converting an output signal from said adder into an analog signal.